Camera



T. MCG. AIKEN May 9, 1944.

CAMERA Filed March 2l, 1941 4 Shevatrs-Sheet- 1 INVENTOR. 77%? m BY MMX/1 227m www May 9, 1944. T, MCG. AIKEN 2,348,510

CAMERA Filed March 2l, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "Q" 124 126 @1 125 61 1051.0? ma INVENTOR,

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T. MCG. AIKEN May 9, 1944.

CAMERA Filed March 2l, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR,

May 9, 1944.

T. MCG. AIKEN 2,348,510

CAMERA Filed March 2l, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 50 maw/Z4 3,? Lfg'glg Fg'g 20 INVENTOR. 'JM 72M/ MW BY @m/019% Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAMERA Thomas McG. Aiken, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application March 21, 1941, serial No. 384,435 '12 Claims. ('Cl. 9542) My invention relates to cameras and more particularly to those ofthe reflex type wherein the lens and the shutter are located forwardly of the mirror, as distinguished from cameras of the focal plane shutter type.

In the present application. I show a modication of my Patent No. 2,168,893, altered to make a camera of the reflex type, certain of the operating parts being also modified.

When employing reflex cameras in photographing moving objects, in many instances there is too great delay between the time for focusing and the start of the exposure for the picture, owing to the lapse of time between movement of the mirror from focusing position to the operation of the shutter, so that the object will have moved some distance during the period between the focusing and the exposure operations.

In the case of focal plane shutters, where the curtain slit or opening moves across the field of' the sensitized surface, from one edge to the other, there is a distortion of the true position of a moving object. Also, in the use of flash lights with focal plane shutters, the exposure may not occur during the illumination peak. Another objection to some cameras of the reflex type is that because the mirror frequently has to be moved very quickly away from focusing position, it imparts an impact to the camera at the end of its movement, thus vshifting the position of the camera, or setting up vibrations thereof.

One object of my invention is to provide a camera. of the reflex type wherein the focusing mirror is positioned between the lens and the 'light-sensitized element, and is provided With means whereby .danger of light rays from above or in front of the mirror passing to the sensitized surf-ace during movements of the mirror isavoided.

Another object of my invention is to provide a camera of the reilex type wherein the movement of the mirror from focusing position is followed more quickly by the operation of the shutter than is possible with reflex cameras of other forms.

Still another object of my invention is to provide means for counteracting the force or impact exerted by afocusing mirror when it is moved from its focusing position.

A further object of my invention is to provide operating mechanism whereby the focusing mirror and the shutter mechanism can be operated quickly, conveniently and efliciently.

Another object of my invention is to provide a reflex camera of such form that exposure throughout the area of an entire plate or lm of the operating elements of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a can be made through one lens, at any given instant.

Another object is to provide means whereby a reflected image on the screen, of the view to be photographed. can be had exactly as it will appear on the illm.

And another object is to provide a. structure wherein the shutter and focusing elements can be set in focusing position and in condition to take a picture, by a single setting operation of one member.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical view of the front portion of the camera, on the line I-I of Fig. 2; Fig. la is a plan view of one of the elements of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the camera, on the line II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing a retaining bracket for holding certain of the parts against movement during focusing adjustments; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a. portion oi.' one fragmentary side elevational view oi' a portion of the structure o1' Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a view showing the shutter operating mechanism, looking from the rear, with the rear cover of the shutter omitted; Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of the spring tension adjusting device and the shuttersettirig-ring of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line lVIII--VIH of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the position occupied by certain of the shutter-moving elements of Fig. 6 at one stage of operation; Figs. 9av and 10 show the positions thereof ai; other stages; Fig. 11 is a rear face view of the rear cover plate for the shutter mechanism of Fig. 6; Fig. l2 is an edge view thereof showing certain of the operating elements supported therein; Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view through the focusing mirror and a portion of the operating mechanism thereof Fig. 14 is a view looking into the rear of the camera behind the mirror, a portion of the mirror being broken away; Fig. 15 is a side view partially in section, showing the focusing mirror and the operating mechanism therefor; Fig. 16 is a front view of the apparatus of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a rear view of the shutter-operating rings in relatively assembled relation; Fig- 18 is a view showing the shutter rings of Fig. 17 and one of the shutter blades in disassembled relation; Fig. 19 is a face view of one of the shutter blades, and Fig. 20 shows the front cover plate for the parts of Fig. 17, and serves as a retaining element for holding the shutter blades in place.

The camera comprises the usual box 20 having a holder or guide at its rear side that has slots 28a for a film or plate holder; a; focusing mirror 22 which is pivotally mounted in the mirror chamber, and a shutter assembly comprising a case 2| having lens-supporting portions I9 and 28 and shutter blades 24 (Figs. 9 and 17) operating in the space 24a (Fig. 2), between the members I9 and 23. Four shutter blades 24 are positioned between a plate 25 and a rear partition plate 28. The shutter blades 24 and the operating rings 21 and 28 therefor are positioned between the plates 25 and 26. These rings are shown in Figs. 17 and 18. The ring 28 lies within the ring 21 and has four slots 29 for the reception of `studs 38 on the four blades 24, when the rings and blades are assembled as in Fig. 17, the studs 3| on the ring 21 extending through holes 32 in the blades and into the slots in the plate 25, so that as the rings 21 and 28 are oscillated relative to one another, the blades 24 will be oscillated to and from their closed position, as disclosed in my Patent 2,168,893. Space 24h is provided for a diaphragm of suitable form (not shown).

A stud |58 is provided on the ring 21 and will extend through a slot in plate 25 (Fig. 20) to automatically reduce a diaphragm from focusing aperture to exposure aperture, in connection with apparatus disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 384,484, filed Mar. 21, 1941.

'I'he ring 28 has a pair of posts 34 and 35 to which springs 36 and 31 are respectively connected, at one end, the other ends of the springs being connected to oppositely-disposed arms 38 and 39 of a tension-adjusting collar 40. The ring 21 has posts 4| and 42 to which springs one end of springs 43 and 44 are respectively connected, the other ends of the springs being connected to the arms 38 and 38. The collar 40 is adjustable about its center and is heldin adjusted position, against the tension of the springs, by a pivoted paw] 46 carried thereby in position to engage a rack 41 on the shutter frame. When the rings 21 and 28 are moved clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 6), the springs 36, 31, 43 and 44 will be placed under tension, to return the rings to their original positions when they are released, the shutter blades 24 then being closed.

`In order to shift the rings 21 and 28an'd place them under spring tension, a setting ring 49 is provided, which has arms 58, 5| and 52, the arm 52 being connected to the shutter casing by a spring 52a which will return it to the position shown in Fig. 6. When the ring 49 is turned clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 6, its arm 58 will engage the posts 34 and 4|, thus moving the rings 21 and 23 and tensioning the springs 36, 31, 43 and 44. The ring 49 is moved in this clockwise direction by the counter-clockwise rotation of a cam member 53 that is mounted on a shaft 54 that extends through a bushing 54a (Fig. 1) that carries a gear wheel 66 and a cam 84. A second cam member 55 on the shaft 54 engages a stud 56 that is carried by the ring 21, when the cam member 53 has completed its movement of the ring 49. The cam 55 thus moves the ring 21 a slight distance further, independently of the ring 28.

Movement of the ring 49 by the cam 58 will move a latch pin 58 which is on the ring 21, past the free end of a spring-pressed latch 59 that is pivotally mounted in the casing, and causes a latchpin 68 on the ring 21 to be moved beneath a spring-pressed latch 6|. The latches 59 and 6| will, at this time, hold the shutter rings 21 and 28 against the pull of the springs 36,

31, 43 and 44. Since the rings 21 and 28 have been advanced simultaneously and there has consequently been no relative shifting of the pivot points-at 80 and 3| of each blade, the shutter blades still remain in their closed position. However, further rotation of the shaft 54 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, brings the cam 55 against the stud 56 on the `ring 21, thus moving the ring further, until a stud 63 thereon is engaged by a spring-pressed latch 64. This additional movement shifts the pivot studs 3| farther along relative to the studs 3|), so that the shutter blades are swung to open position where they will be held by the latch 64, until it is tripped by return movement of the cam 55 past neutral position, as hereinafter explained.

The cam shaft 54 carries a spline gear wheel 68 that is driven by a gear wheel 61. The gear wheel 61 is carried on a shaft 68 that is journaled in the camera box and has a driven clutch element 69 on one end thereof, that cooperates with a driving clutch element 84 on a shaft 18 that has an operating handle 1 When the handle 1| is swung rearwardly, the shaft 54 will be rocked to rotate the cam elements 53 and 55 to place the shutter yrings 21 and 28 under tension and cause the shutter blades to be latched in open position, as above explained. This movement of the handle 1| moves a cam 13a which is on the shaft 68 against one arm 13 of a bell crank, to move it in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 15, so that the arm 14 of the crank will be moved against the tension of a spring 15 that is secured to the arm and the wall of the mirror chamber. The upper end of the arm 14 is thereby caused to push a crank arm 18 from the forwardly dotted position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 15, whereby the mirror is swung from its upper (horizontal) position (Fig. 13) to the focusing position (Figs. 2 and 15). The crank arm 16 and the mirror frame 11 which carries the mirror 22 are rigidly secured to a shaft 18 that is journaled in the mirror chamber wall. A pad 19 prevents light rays passing down behind the pivoted end of the mirror frame. The mirror frame 11 is held in its lower position by a latch 88 whose lower end is spring-pressed into latched engagement with a notch in the mirror flange 8| of the mirror frame. When the latch is released, the mirror will be swung to its upper position by a spring 82 which is placed under tension through movement of the mirror to its focusing position, the spring being connected to the crank 16 and an upper portion of the mirror chamber wall.

The rearward movement of the handle 1|, to

` set the parts as above explained, is limited `by a stop pin ||2 that Iis carried by a disc 12 and which engages a stop pin I |3'carried by the inner wall Qf the camera (Fig. 6). A stop pin ||2a on the disc 12 engages the pin ||3 to limit forward movement of the handle 1|. The handle 1| will then be returned to its neutral position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, at which point it will be held by a yieldable latch ||4 that is secured to the wall of the casing and has a roller H5 engaging a notch in the disc 12 (Figs. 6 and 8). Accidental movement of the handle is thereby prevented. A stop member ||6 is provided on the side of the casing, to prevent further forward movement of the handle 1| at this time. This stop member is pivoted to the side of the casing (Fig. 5) and has its rear end yieldably held in position to engage a stud ||1 on the handle, by a spring |I8 interposed between the to clear the stud |11 and permit further forwardv movementor the handle 1 i When the shutter has been set'atopen` position as in Fig. 10, and the mirror at focusing position as above explained, and with the handle 1| returned to neutral position (Figs. 5 andc), the parts will be as in Fig. 6. The operator .can view the reflected image on the focusing screen or glass 83,A in order to properly focus and position the camera, ya suitablehood being provided on the top of the camera- Thereupon he will move the handle 1| forwardly; causing thevcam 55 to trip the latch 64, thus allowing the ring 21 to be pulled counter-clockwise (Fig. 9) until its stud 58 engages and is held bythe latch 59.

f The shutter blades 24 are thereby closed.' A` latch |01 (Fig. 6) which hasr a-rectang-.ular recess that engagesthe tail of the latch- 59 prevents the latch 59 from being accidentally thrown'to release position through impact of the stud 58 (Fig. 9). Simultaneously with this tripping movement by the cam 55, a cam |84 on the shaft 54 (Fig. 2) will engage the tail of the latch 80, releasing the mirror for upward movement under the pull ofthe spring 82. During7 this upward movement the mirror frame moves along the curved wall 85 of the mirror chamber. The edges of the mirror frame may suitably be faced with plush 22a or the like (Fig. 15) that engages the wall 85 and the sides of the mirror chamber, to shut 01T light. The wall 85 has a central opening 86 through which focusing and exposure take place, A sealing plate or flap 81 is hinged to the skirt 8| of the mirror frame. by a shaft or pintle 88 which has crank arms 89 that carry rollers that roll along the curved wall 85. This plate 81 is faced with plush or other suitable material on its forward side. Each of two torsion springs 90 has one end connected to the box and is coiled around the shaft 88. the other end bearing against one of the arms 89 (Fig. 14), so as to bias the shaft in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. l). The rollers normally hold the plate 81 against the wall 85, and when passing the opening 86, the flap 81 will prevent light rays from passing the lower edge of the mirror".

and through the opening 85 to the im holder 2|. The lower edge of the ap 81 lwill not have passed the lower edge of the opening 86 until after the mirror has passed the upper edge of In order to fold the -flap 81'- up, clear-of the opening 86, as shown'jin Fig;- 1 3. whenvready to make an exposure. the wall 85, near' its vertical edges, has depressions 9|v into which the rollers will move as the mirror approaches its upper position, so that the springs 99 can swing the shaft 88 and'its'arms 89 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 13) to fold the flap toward the underside of the mirror. A leaf spring 92 cn the mirror frame serves Ato cushion this folding movement. y

The mirror frame at the end of its upward swing will abut against a cushioning strip 94 of felt or other material, but there will nevertheless be an undesirable shock on the camera structure which may sometimes result in slight displacement of the camera, or of certain of the operating mechanism. To counteract this shock, I provide for exerting a force in the opposite direction at the instant the mirror frame reaches its upper limit of movement. To thisy end, I conv'.slofifts the studs 3| completed within one-thirtieth nect a link 95 to the crankl arm 19. At its lower end the link has connection with an arm 96 that isl secured to one end of a shaft 91, an arm 98 being secured to the other end of this shaft. A bar 99 serves as a counter-weight and is mov- "able downwardly against a cushioning pad |00 von the bottom of the casing. It will be seen that vweight 99. A spring |0| is secured at one end to the shaft 91 and at its other end bears against the underside of the chamber wall so as to bias the shaft in a clockwise direction. By varying the spring tension in any suitable manner, the impacting force of the weight 99 can be varied, by reason of its loose link connection with the mirror.

At the completion of focusing'operation, with the latch 6| restraining the ring 28 against movement under the tension of its springs 36 and 31. and with the latch 59 holding the ring 21 against movement under the pull of its springs 43 and M, movement of the mirror frame to its upper .position-brings it into engagement with a slide |82 that slides behind face plate |D2a. whose upper bent portion extends rearwardly through a hole |92b rand whose lower bent end |83 lies beneath a crank army ind that its secured to a shaft |05 that extends through a keyed bushing |05a ((Figs. 4, 6 and l2) which also carries the latch 6|. The shaft is thereby rocked, thus tripping the latch 9| from the stud 68. The ring 28 will thereupon be swung in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 6), thereby shifting the pivot pins 39 relative to the pivot pins 3| and moving the shutter blades 24 to open position, for the making of an exposure. This condition exists only momentarily. because a stud |96 carried by the ring 28 will push the latch |01 out of engagement with the tail piece of the latch 59 and move into engagement With the tail piece of the latch 59 to disengage the named latch from the stud 58 (Fig. 9a), thereby releasing the ringr 21 for movement under the pull of its springs and 44, which movement and moves the shut-ter blades closed. The cycle of shutter opening and closing movement which voccurs following the tripping of the latch 6| is quite rapid; and may bev of a second from the Atime the mirror begins its upward movement; `the speed of shutter movement being dependent upon the adjustment of the arm 38 and its pawlz 4S along the rack bar 41. Thus if the arm is at its uppermost position, the springs 35, 31, 43 and d4 will be placed under greater tension when setting the shutter rings 21 and 28 than when the arm 38 is at a lower position along the rack 41.

In order to avoid rebound of the ring 28 when I hook of the lastlatch 6| under pressure of its spring will thereafter depress Bla to permit the stud B to be returned past the beveled nose of the latch 6|, to the position shown in Fig. 6.

In case it is desired to trip the latch 6| manually instead of automatically as just described, a push button or plunger is depressed to rock a crank ||0 and thereby rock the latch 8| to release the stud 60.

By sliding the handle 1| and its shaft 10 outwardly from the side of the box, its clutch pin 84 will be disengaged from the hole in the clutch member 60, permitting rearward movement of the handle 1| without moving the shaft 80, while forward movement of the handle 1| will bring the pin 84 into engagement with the shoulder |2| of the clutch member 69 and turn the gear wheels 61 and 66 to effect release of the latch 00. The pin ||2a at this time prevents the handle being swung forwardly far enough to disengage the roller ||3 from the notch. The pressure of the spring ||4 will, therefore, cause return of the lever 1| to its neutral position. With the operating handle pulled out as above explained and with the shutter released to spent position, the operation of the handle 1| will serve only to set the mirror in focusing position and release it therefrom. Withthe parts set in this position, and with the mirror down, a pin |23 carried by the ring 21 is in engagement with a springpressed lever |24 that is pivotally mounted in the shutter frame. A cable release |25 of the usual form is provided for rocking the lever |24 against the pressure of its spring |23.

Starting with the shutter mechanism in spent position and the mirror up, bulb or time exposures' can be made by operating a cable release at |25 which will move the stud |23 and the ring 21 in a clockwise direction against the tension of its springs 43 and 44 to open the shutter blades, the blades being maintained open for so long as the outer end of the lever |24 is depressed. Release of this pressure causes the springs 43 and 44 to return the shutter blades to closed position.

A focusing ring |28 having a stud-like handle |29 which may be conveniently located in peripherally-spaced holes of the ring, is provided for focusing the lens mounted in I8 and 23. focusing ring has threaded engagement with an annular collar |30 on the front of the camera and helical focusing thread connection with the barrel 2| of the shutter assembly, so that when the ring |23 is turned, the lens frame will be shifted forwardly or rearwardly as may be required, In order to prevent rotation of the barrel 2| during adjusting movements of the ring |23, the barrel carries a stud |3| that extends through a hole in a bracket |32 that is secured to the camera box by screws |33, the member |32 being of yoke-like form so as to extend around the inwardly-projecting edge of the shutter assembly.

Assuming that the mirror has been set to focusing position, with the shutter open for focusing and with the shutter rings 21 and 28 under operating tension, in which condition the release of the i'nirror, the closing 0f the shutter and releasing of the tensioning means to operate the shutter would result in an instantaneous exposure, if the operator should desire instead to make a time or bulb exposure, he will release the latch 46 of the tension lever 38 and move the lever down to its lowest tensioning position. During this movement, a finger |35 on the tension lever will engage lthe tail piece |36 of the latch 64 to release the stud 53 of the shutter ring 21. The

.The

ring 21 will thereupon be moved by its springs 43-44, so that the shutter blades will be closed as in Fig. 9. Thereupon, the nger release |03 is pressed to move the latch 6| and release the shutter ring 20, whose movement under the tension of its springs 36 and 31 will ilrst cause the shutter blades to open. When its stud |08 engages the latch 59, at the completion of the opening, the stud 58 is released, thus permitting the ring 21 to be further advanced and thereby close the shutter. It will be remembered that the mirror is still in its down position, shielding the film from exposure during these shutter movements. The mirror will then be raised through operation of the handle.1|, leaving the camera operable by cable release at |25 for time or bulb exposures, such exposure occurring through rockingof the lever |24 and pushing against the stud |23, by a suitable release.

If it is desired that the mirror on its upward movement does not operate the trip slide |02 for releasing the operating tension on the shutter blades, as when it is desired to make a. picture of a moving object at extreme speed, without the delay of the time required for the mirror to move to its uppermost position, I provide means for disengaging the crank arm |04 from the bent end |03 of the slide |02 (Fig. 1). This dlsengaging means comprises a lever |31 pivoted to the mirror chamber wall at |30 and carrying a stud |30 at its outer end, which is movable in a vertical slot formed in the front wall of the camera. The inner end of the lever |31 is beveled at |40, so that when said beveled end is swung upwardly, it will pass upwardly behind the head or button |4| on the rear end of the shaft |03 and spring the yieldable arm |42 of the plate |02a forwardly, carrying with it the crank |04 clear of the ledge |03, and so that when the mirror in its upward movement raises the slide |02, the shaft |03 and the latch 6| (Fig. 6) will not be operated to release the shutter.

The operating of the lever handle 1| to release the mirror will cause closing of the shutter and release the mirror for raising movement, but, as just explained, the operating tension on the shutter will not be released. A quick exposure can then be made simply by operating the button |04 with the finger or a cable release, which will trip the latch 8|, allowing the rings 20 and 21 to move through their shutter-operating cycles.

While I have herein shown a 4-blade shutter, it will be understood that the shutter can comprise five blades, or any other suitable number.

I claim as my invention:

1. A reflex camera having a mirror pivoted at one edge for movement to and from a focusing position between the lens and the holder for a sensitized element, a mirror chamber having a wall of arcuate form between the lens and the mirror and having an opening therethrough in axial alignment with the lens, the wall being curved coaxially of the mirror pivot, a sealing plate connected to the rear side of the mirror and curv`ed coaxially of the mirror pivot, in position to move on said wall and across said opening during movements of the mirror to and from focusing position, and means rendered operative through movement of the mirror, for swinging the sealing plate away from said opening at the completion of movement by the mirror from its focusing position.

2. A reflex camera having a mirror pivoted at one edge for movement to and from a focusing position between the lens and the holder for a asas-,sic

sensitized element, a-partition plate of arcuate form. between the lens and the mirror and having an opening therethrough in axial alignment with the lens, the plate being curved coaxially of the mirror pivot, a sealing plate pivotally connected to the mirror and curved coaxially of the mirror pivot, in position to move on said wall and across said opening during movements of the mirror, and means controlled by movement of the mirror, which is operable at the completion of movement by the mirror from its focusing position to swing the sealing plate away from said opening, and operable rto return the sealing plate to sealing position at the commencement of movement by the mirror to focusing position.

3. A reflex camera havinga mirror, means for moving said mirror to and from focusing position and a weighted lever actuated by movement of the mirror from focusing position to produce a thrust in direction to oppose the thrust exerted by the mirror on the `camera structure at the completion of the last-named movement.

4. A reflexcamera having a mirror, means for moving said mirrorv to and-from focusing position. and a weight element controlled by said means and caused to move inv a direction opposite to the mirror when the mirror is moving from focusing position, to produce a force that counteracts the thrust of the mirror on the camera structure.

`5. A camera structure comprising a lens, a shutter, av support for a sensitized element, a

reflex mirror movable to and from focusing position, tensioning mechanism for moving the `shutterv through an `opening and closing cycle,

means operable by a single member for moving the mirror to'focusing position and the shutter to open position, under tension, `rriea'ns operable to effect movements of the mirror from focusing position land the shutter to closed position, by the forces o f theirfrespeotive tensions, means for retaining t'ensionall force on the shutter and means for automatically*releasing the said retaining ,means`,"`to effect an exposure operation of theA shutter, by itsjten'sioning mechanism; at theV completion of theflas't-named*movements.

y 6 .zA reflexcamera having a shutter, a mirror v movable to Aand `from focusing4 position, tensioning Idevices-.for urgingthe'shutter toward closed position and themirrorfrom focusing position, an operating lever, means -actuated'by movement of the lever in one direction, to rst set the mirror in focusing position and to open the shutter under tension, means actuated by movement of the lever in the opposite direction, for releasing the mirror and causing the shutter to be closed under tension, and a tension device actuated by the lever for effecting an opening and closing cycle of movement by the shutter.

7. A reex camera having a mirror, means for moving the mirror to focusing position, a spring normally urging the mirror from focusing position to a fixed seat on the camera, a movable weight element, a stop element forthe weight,

and a device connecting the weight element and the mirror in such manner that when .the mirror moves in one direction against the stop element, the weight element will be moved in the opposite direction, to produce a counteracting thrust on the camera structure when the mirror comes to tion to a xed seat on the camera. a movable weight element, a stop element for the weight, a spring normally urging the weight element in a direction opposite to that in which the mirror moves to non-focusing position, and a device connecting the weight element and the mirror in such manner that when the mirror moves in one direction the weight element will be moved in the opposite direction against the stop element, to produce a counteracting thrust on the camera structure when the mirror cornes to rest at the end of its movement by its spring to non-focusing position.

9. A reflex camera having a mirror movable to axial alignment with the'lens, a sealing plate,

having pivotal connection with the mirror and carried thereby, a spring normally tensioned to yieldablyhold the plate in folded position against the rear side of the mirror, and means operable during movement of the mirror to focusing position for rocking the plate against the tension of the spring, against the partition plate to seal said opening, and for releasing the plate for movement from its sealing to its folded position, at about the completion of movement of the mirror from focusing position.

10. A refiex camera having a mirror movable to and from a focusing position between the lens and the holder for a sensitized element, a sta- -axial alignment with the lens, a sealing plate having pivotal connection with the mirror and carried thereby, a spring normally tensioned to yieldably hold the plate in folded position against the rear side of the mirror, and means operable during movement of the mirror to focusing position for rocking the plate against the tension of the spring, against the partition plate to seal said opening, and for releasing the v plate for movement from its sealing to its folded position, at about the completion of movement o f restY after movement thereof by its spring to nenv focusing position.

8, A reflex camera having a mirror, means'for moving the mirror to focusing position, a spring normally urging the mirror 'from focusing posithe mirror from focusing position, the said means comprising a guide arm on the plate and a stationary curved guide plate engaged by the arm.

11. Camera apparatus comprising a mirror movable to and from focusing position, a shutter having blades of the iris type, blade-operating members mounted for relative oscillatory movements for opening and closing the blades, springs for tensioning said members, means for moving the mirror to focusing position, under tension, means automatically operable during said mirror movement, to 'place the blade-operating members yundici' operating tension, and to shift one of the members to a position at which the blades are open, means for releasably latching said operating members under tension, a latch for releasably holding the mirror under tension, and means operative through movement of-the mirror from focusing position, upon release of its latch, for releasing the ysaid blade-operating members, in succession, for movement by their springs, whereby the shutter blades are first opened and then closed.

1.2. Camera apparatus comprising a mirrory ber While the blade-operating members are maintained under tension, a latch limiting movelment of said one member to a point at which the shutter is in closed position and the said member is still under tension, and means operated by the mirror at approximately the end of its travel from focusing position. for releasing the said blade-operating members in succession, for movement by their springs, whereby the shutter 10 blades are rst opened and then closed.

THOMAS MCG. AIKEN. 

